Gels Are Cool



Applications & Techniques:
Flower Collage with Patti Brady, Director Working Artists Program
While at the Learning & Product Expo in Chicago this summer, GOLDEN Working Artists Program Director Patti Brady, demonstrated the limitless possibilities of GOLDEN Acrylics, specifically Coarse Molding Paste.  View the video to get a step-by-step look at her use of this new product and to better understand how you may be able to incorporate our Gels & Mediums into your artwork. GOLDEN Gels are the undiscovered and under-utilized secret of acrylic materials. No other medium offers artists the incredible array of options in surfaces, viscosities, transparencies, textures, glazes and extending possibilities, while maintaining great flexibility and a relatively quick drying time.

Step 1

Mix GOLDEN Molding Paste with Fluid Nickel Azo Yellow at an 80/20% ratio. Spread the mixture with a large palette knife over the entire surface, leaving strong textural application lines from the knife. Let dry.  Next, using the same mixture spread it through a stencil leaving the image about a ¼ inch or more thick.

 

 Collage Step 1

Step 2

Once dry, spread Crackle Paste in different thicknesses (¼ inch to ½ inch in areas) over most of the surface to create a range of fissures.  Leave some areas uncovered so that the base coat is visible.

 Collage Step 2

Step 3

Dampen the entire dry surface with a spray bottle. Wash thinned Fluid Iridescent Bronze (Fine) over the entire surface. When this dries over the Nickel Azo Yellow, it will appear gold, with Phthalo Green pigment accentuating the cracks. If the cracks are not dark enough, apply another layer when the previous one has dried completely.

 Collage Step 3

Step 4

Spread Coarse Molding Paste over the dried surface. As you spread, scrape down over the stencil(s) so that they are visible in some areas, leaving other sections exposed. Also vary the thickness of Coarse Molding Paste throughout the piece. Thinner applications will be somewhat translucent, creating unique effects.

 Collage Step 4

Step 5

Using a bottle with a pointed nozzle filled with Polymer Medium, draw an image on the substrate. Let dry.

 Collage Step 5

Step 6

Next, dampen the flower with a spray bottle and wash Fluid Indian Yellow Hue, Fluid Pyrrole Red, Fluid Diarylide Yellow and Fluid Prussian Blue Hue over the surface. Let dry before you begin the next area. You can use a hairdryer to speed up the process if you wish. 

If you don’t mind the paint being “out of control” —bleeding into other areas, then go for it and have some fun!

The flower’s leaves were created with Fluid Green Gold, Fluid Jenkins Green and Fluid Chromium Oxide Green.

The sky uses Fluid Prussian Blue Hue, Fluid Cobalt Teal and Fluid Cobalt Blue.

Work quickly, loosely and very wet; drop color in and pull in different directions with a paintbrush.  You can blot up wet color with a paper towel.

When dry, you can add more detail or use layers of white to make changes if you feel the need.

Collage Step 6
Click to enlarge final piece